Tubular front axle



Jan. 19, 1932.

G. H. HUFFERD E'TAI.l

TUBULAR FRONT AXLE Filed Juner 5, 1929 vali... O

Patented dan. 19, 1932 TED STS OFFICE GEORGE H. HUFFERD AND MATTHEW l. GRAHAM, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO THOMPSON PRODUCTS, INCORPORATED, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A GOIN-"RA'IICN OF OHIO TBULAR FRONT AXLE Original application led December 19, 1925, Serial No. 76,457. Divided and this application led June 1929. Serial rlhis invention relates to a one-piece tubular member having relatively thin walls and a substantially solid end, and more particularly to front axle centers for automobiles.

The front axle center is that part of an automobile to which the stub axles of the front wheels are pivoted and which, with the rear axle, sustain the sprung weight of the car. Since the front axle center sustains about one-half the weightl of the car and since it is subjected in all cases to the static load, also, where four wheel brakes are employed, to torsional stress at its outer ends, it must be very strong. As commonly constructed, this part is formed of an I-beam which must necessarily be of considerable weight. In order to make this part lighter and thus decrease the unsprung weight of the car, a tubular axle center has been used having an intermediate tubular part and tubular end sections with solid ends welded together. Such a construction is too Weak effectively to withstand the stresses to which such a part is subjected in use and it also involves an increase in the cost of manufacture.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a tubular front axle of relatively light yet strong construction, capable of being manufactured at a relatively decreased cost.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification andthe accompanying drawings.

This invention gin a preferred form) is illustrated in the rawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure l is a, front elevation of an axle center illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevational view of the end portion thereof;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan View Figure 4 is a sectional View taken substantially on line IV-IV of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line V-V of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional View similar to Figure 4. of a slight modication, in which the Figure 8 isa View similar to Figure 7 illuse trating an axle center whose main portion is circular in cross section;

Figure 9 is a sectional view similar to Figure 8 wherein the main portion is oval in cross section.

rlhe reference numeral 1 indicates a tubular axle center, composed of two mating sections 2-2 of any suitable cross section and welded together at abutting edges as indicated at 3. Said tubular axle center 1 is provided with substantially solid ends 4 having transverse apertures 5 adapted to receive pintles 6 connected with the front steering knuckles 15 of an automobile.

Said apertures 5 are preferably arranged at a slight angle to a horizontal plane passing through the longitudinal axis of the main central part of the axle center.

The mating sections may be of many different shapes, some of which are illustrated in Figures 5, 7, 8 and 9, and the same se'ction may have one shape for a part of its length and vanother shape at a different part, for purposes hereinafter indicated. As indicated in Figure 7 each section 16 is of general U-shape; as indicated in Figure 8 each section 17 is of semi-cylindrical shape; and as indicated in Figure 9, each section 18 is of semi-oval shape.

The' process employed in forming axle centers of this type is well known and the art of forming will therefore not be described, reference being made only incidentally to the steps of the process.

A sheet of metal is rolled or pressed into channel forms as defined in our Patent No- 1,7 21,695 to provide the mating sections 2-2, with integral, semi-cylindrical ends 4, which ends mate to define the'pintle receiving apertures 5, bbunded by the end walls 7 and side Walls 7, when said sections are positioned in assembled relation. When the section is formed by rolling, it is rolled straight and afterward bent to shape at the ends.

The upper section is preferably provided with enlarged portions 8 at the points where thespring pads 19 are to have their seats. Said enlarged portions 8 are provided with a plurality of bolt receiving apertures 9 and a central dowel receiving aperture 10. The mating lower section is provided with flanges 11 of corresponding dimensions provided with similar bolt receiving apertures 12.

After so forming the mating sections, the edges of the channels are placed together and secured by welding, as indicated at 3. The joints are arranged as described so as to be in vertical or horizontal plane-when the article is in use, as conditions appear to demand. In an axle center it is generally preferable to arrange the joints in a horizontal plane, which is a neutral Zone (Figure 6) the Aupper section being in compression and the lower section in tension, althoughthis arrangement is not essential.

The cup-shaped cylindrical end portions 4 of the mating sections with the end walls 7 forni retainers for any suitable bearing members 13, in which the pintles 6 of the steering knuckle is mounted, as above described.

`The enlarged portion 8 of the upper half section, together with the flanges 11 of the lower halt` section, forni a. cavity in which is placed a iilling block 14, which serves to prevent the bolts securingthe spring pads to the axle center from distorting the stamping.

It will be apparent from the above description that We have produced an axle center, or like metal part, which is light, yet strong, and which can be inanufactured'at low cost.

This application is a division of our application Serial No. 76,457, filed December 19, 1925, which has now matured into Patent No.

We are aware that many changes may be niade and numerous details ot construction tion, and we, therefore, do not purpcse lim-` iting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art and the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An axle for a vehicle, said axle comprising an elongated tubular member having its ends shaped to provide transversely extending cylindrical members with inturned annular flanges partially closing each end of said cylindrical members.

2. An axle for a vehicle, said axle having integrally formed transversely extending cylindrical end portions with integral inturned annular flanges partially closing each end of said cylindrical end portions.

3. An axle for a vehicle, said axle comprising an elongated tubular member formed of two sheet metal, semi-tubular, longitudinally mating sections, the ends of each section being bent to provide cylindrical transversely extending members with closing end walls when said sectionsare positioned in assembled relation, said end Walls being centrally apertured.

GEORGE H. HUFFERD.

MATTHEV P. GRAHAM. 

